Description
The quest to address and mitigate climate change has been dubbed a “wicked problem” as it involves many interconnected processes requiring a multifaceted, comprehensive approach. Animal agriculture contributes roughly 15% to CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions; as a result, a concerted effort is being made to develop and promote more climate-friendly production practices. These practices include species diversification in grasslands, improving grazing rotation, adding nitrogen amendments, and the use of feed additives to reduce enteric fermentation. Successful inter-seeding of legumes and deep-rooted native grasses increases soil organic carbon (SOC) pools in many systems by increasing the biological carbon inputs to the rhizosphere. Rotational grazing increases the concentration of ruminant waste in smaller areas resulting in a more uniform application of nutrients and forage use. The rotational grazed pasture allows for longer pasture recovery, thereby increasing SOC stocks indirectly through increased root and aboveground biomass growth. Fertilization of pasturelands with nitrogen-only fertilizers increases SOC stocks. Enteric methane emission makes up over 44% of animal agriculture’s carbon footprint (Tubiello et al. 2013) and can be reduced using novel feed additives to mixed rations for confined cattle consumption. It’s important to consider that none of these management practices is a silver bullet that works in any situation; instead, these can be effective tools to draw down carbon emissions. Many barriers, particularly financial ones, have kept land managers from implementing these climate-improving practices. To help growers address these barriers to adoption Agoro Carbon™ Alliance is implementing carbon offset projects, which provide both financial incentives and education that facilitate the adoption of multiple, improved agricultural management practices involving animal agriculture.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.13023/bpcb-dx15
Citation
Peterson Munks, B. L.; Rellaford, M.; Shanahan, J.; Urbanowitz, S.; Wang, F.; Wang, S.; Zhao, Y.; and Bender, E., "Ruminant Agriculture: A Tool for Climate Change Mitigation" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 71.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/XXV_IGC_2023/Livestock/71
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Ruminant Agriculture: A Tool for Climate Change Mitigation
The quest to address and mitigate climate change has been dubbed a “wicked problem” as it involves many interconnected processes requiring a multifaceted, comprehensive approach. Animal agriculture contributes roughly 15% to CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions; as a result, a concerted effort is being made to develop and promote more climate-friendly production practices. These practices include species diversification in grasslands, improving grazing rotation, adding nitrogen amendments, and the use of feed additives to reduce enteric fermentation. Successful inter-seeding of legumes and deep-rooted native grasses increases soil organic carbon (SOC) pools in many systems by increasing the biological carbon inputs to the rhizosphere. Rotational grazing increases the concentration of ruminant waste in smaller areas resulting in a more uniform application of nutrients and forage use. The rotational grazed pasture allows for longer pasture recovery, thereby increasing SOC stocks indirectly through increased root and aboveground biomass growth. Fertilization of pasturelands with nitrogen-only fertilizers increases SOC stocks. Enteric methane emission makes up over 44% of animal agriculture’s carbon footprint (Tubiello et al. 2013) and can be reduced using novel feed additives to mixed rations for confined cattle consumption. It’s important to consider that none of these management practices is a silver bullet that works in any situation; instead, these can be effective tools to draw down carbon emissions. Many barriers, particularly financial ones, have kept land managers from implementing these climate-improving practices. To help growers address these barriers to adoption Agoro Carbon™ Alliance is implementing carbon offset projects, which provide both financial incentives and education that facilitate the adoption of multiple, improved agricultural management practices involving animal agriculture.
